Call us on 01904 652718

Robert Smart Menswear & Smart Country York

Robert Smart menswear in York have a new range of Fynch Hatton clothing available. High quality long-stapled cotton, finest lambswool, cashmere from Mongolia, linen, silk or Merino, on top of all that the craftsmanship right down to the perfect fit. Each and every part of a pullover is knitted to form and linked by hand with an eye to “detailed quality and workmanship”.

The name Fynch–Hatton® stands for premium quality.

The Fynch Hatton product range in our York menswear shop encompasses everything – from Outdoor Tweed right up to Supersoft Cotton, from Premium Cotton right up to Pima Cotton Cashmere, from Sporty Polo Piquee right up to luxurious Interlock Sweat (NEW!) – all in trendy colours.

Casual pullovers and sweats in lour York store in the spirit of the times and with personality.

Fynch cotton – Hatton York ® only uses long-stapled and delicate US-cotton which distinguishes itself by giving the finished product an evenly knitted look and a subtle shine. Above that, our yarns are only dyed with certified dyestuffs, which are environmentally friendly and gentle to the skin. Our Supersoft Cotton is finished in a unique washing process developed by us, so that pullovers are especially soft with brilliant colours. Fynch – Hatton ® lambswool York is soft and cuddly, as we only use the finest wool, with an average fibre between 19 and 21 thousandths of a millimetre. In addition, we take long-fibred wool, from which we have the yarn highly spun according to our specifications. These yarns are especially smooth and less prone to pilling.

Fynch–Hatton® lambswool York is easy-care and smoothens out again under the influence of warmth and moisture. This is why a standard delicate machine wash programme saves washing by hand.

Cashmere jumpers and pullovers at Robert Smart Menswear York.

Cashmere clothing York is elegant and light, and at the same time soft and warming. A cashmere pullover from our York shop is just like an air-conditioner: warm in the winter, pleasantly cool in summer. The fine air locks between each fibre work as ideal insulation and preserve warmth.

Fynch–Hatton® produces its cashmere pullovers in Outer Mongolia. This is where the best quality can be found, carefully combed from the stomach and chest regions of the Cashmere goat and spun into double-ply yarn. The pullovers are knitted to form and linked by hand. Pure cashmere crafted to perfection.

The Movember Foundation is the leading global organisation committed to changing the face of men’s health. Mark Blackburn from Robert Smart Menswear is involved, growing a moustache and running in the Roundhay Park 10k.

The Movember community has raised £346 million to date and funded over 800 programmes in 21 countries. This work is saving and improving the lives of men affected by prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health problems.

The Movember Foundation challenges men to grow moustaches during Movember (formerly known as November), to spark conversation and raise vital funds for its men’s health programs. To date, 4 million moustaches have been grown worldwide, but we won’t stop growing as long as serious men’s health issues exist.

Please help Mark raise money for this worthy cause by visiting his page link below and sponsor him from as little as £1 towards his endeavours this month and the 10K run he is planning to undertake at Roundhay Park on the 22nd November. Thank you!

Meyer MMX at Robert Smart Menswear in York speaks the language of a new generation of men. Established in 2010 as a young concept of MEYER-HOSEN AG, the brand takes the 50 years experience and expertise of the successful traditional company into the modern day. The acronym MMX which represents the Roman numeral 2010, stands for a collection which skillfully combines modern design with fine craftsmanship. The person responsible for the development of the new MMX brand is Michael Meyer, the son of the company founder who is, with this, continuing the family-run business fully in the style of the next generation. MMX Germany 2010 – start of a new era.

The MMX concept stands for much more than simply the production of trousers and the founding of a new fashion brand. It also involves the continuation of a success story and concerns no less than the re-interpretation of the perfect trousers. With a great sense of style and design, elaborately worked products of exceptional quality are created out of the finest materials. The best fits and precision in the tailoring define the collections with elaborate details offering further indication of the fine art of made-to-measure tailoring. All items benefit from the 50 years expertise of the traditional company MEYER-HOSEN AG and also reflect its awareness of quality and values.

John Hanly scraves are available in Robert Smart Menswear in York. Established in Ireland in 1893, John Hanly & Co Ltd specialises in the manufacture of scarves, throws and fabrics in wool, cashmere, lambswool, mohair and natural fibres.

With over 117 years in the textile business, the art of weaving has developed using modern technology and machinery and Hanly’s now manufacture fabrics and accessories for top brands, designers and quality retailers around the world.

With their own water turbine John Hanley produce approx. 30 percent of our electricity requirements. John Hanley now purchase the balance of our electricity requirements from a provider who produce all their electricity from hydro generation. We are therefore proud to be able to say that all our electricity used in our factory comes from renewable sources.

John Hanly & Co Ltd was established in 1893. The company has always been under the management of the Hanly family and Brian Hanly is now the fourth Managing Director. It is located in Ballyartella Woollen Mills, approx. 5 kilometres from Nenagh in County Tipperary.

Before moving to Ballyartella , Denis Hanly and his son John operated a number of hand looms in South County Tipperary, approx 40 miles from Nenagh. In 1893 they moved their machinery to Ballyartella in the North of the county. They took over a vacant mill beside the Nenagh River and a large wheel provided the power necessary to operate the machinery.

The business expanded to spinning and carding, the main products being flannels and blankets. At that time, all products were sold within Ireland and the UK under the guidance of the founder’s son, John Hanly who became Managing Director.

Business continued in this way for many years. Local farmers brought their fleeces to the mill for purchase. Spinning, carding and weaving took place within the six storey mill.

In 1950 the company suffered a major set back. A fire within the mill meant that the factory was virtually burned to the ground. The family home of John Hanly which was beside the mill was also destroyed by the flames. A two-storey structure was all that remained of the original six stories and this is still part of the existing mill and is now used to house the yarn for weaving.

After the fire it was decided to discontinue with the spinning and carding operations and the business now concentrated on the weaving trade and was built up from virtually nothing. It became necessary to buy in all raw materials and the cloth was designed and woven in the mill and finished by specialist finishing companies – this practice continues today.

The company first employed a full time designer in the 1950’s and began weaving more varied types of fabrics for the apparel trade. With the advent of free trade in the early 1960’s, John Hanly & Co Ltd joined two other Irish textile mills to export their products to mainland Europe and the USA. After many years of successful co-operation the companies went their separate ways but had built up useful contacts and agents in relevant markets.

Since the early 1970’s, the company has been involved in selling fabrics directly to Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, UK, USA and Japan. This impressive list has now expanded to include Korea, Australia and Scandinavia. In the late 1970’s the company introduced it’s first accessories range with a collection of blankets and lambswool scarves. However, at this stage fabric was still the main product being produced in Ballyartella. Around 75% of fabric production was for ladies wear and 25% for mens wear, this has been a continuous trend during the decades. The main end uses are mens sports jackets, womens jackets and skirts. Hanly fabric is normally of the classic type with the main colour themes of each season being used. John Hanly & Co Ltd export most of their fabrics to designers and well known brands all over the world.

In the late 1980’s the accessories line of scarves and throws was extended using different yarns offering customers a greater selection of products. During the early 1990’s the demand was so great for Hanly scarves & throws that a stock supported service was implemented for this side of the business. This means that in our warehouse all the scarves & throws that we manufacture are on shelves waiting for orders from our customers and agents around the world. With the growth of the accessories range, fabric production and accessories production is now 50/50. Hanly fabric and accessories are sold to top brands, designers and quality retailers around the world.

John Hanly & Co Ltd is steeped in tradition and guarantees that the products produced are of excellent craftsmanship, outstanding quality and are timeless in their beauty.

7 For All Mankind jeans avaialble at Robert Smart Menswear in York (often referred to simply as Seven, Seven Jeans or 7FAM) is a premium denim brand founded by Michael Glasser, Peter Koral, and Jerome Dahan in 2000 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Dahan and Glasser, denim designers who had worked in the apparel industry for years, created the company in response to what they saw as a void in the contemporary denim market. Focusing on female denim lovers, the company was successful because of the fit, fabrics, washes, attention to detail, and the iconic swooping logo that adorned the product’s back pockets. A myriad of designer denim upstarts followed7 For All Mankind jeans in Los Angeles, making it the world centre for casual fashion. 7 For All Mankind’s proximity to Los Angeles makes the brand popular with celebrities and urban, fashion-conscious young adults. 7 For All Mankind jeans are characteristically tight-fitting and low-rise, The denim collection uses various pocket embroidery designs. The signature logo is found on bootcut jeans, low-rise jeans, straight leg, boycut, wide leg, Jagger, Colette, Roxanne and others. Their A-pocket jean consists of an “A” stitched on the pocket.

Both the men’s and women’s line feature a variety of “washes” which combine fabric, color, and finishing techniques in various combinations. Washes include New York Dark, Medium Chicago, Bombay, and others.

The fits, washes and pocket designs available change with each fashion season.7 For All Mankind jeans available at Robert Smart Menswear York.

Diesel FW 2014 Men’s and Women’s Collections available at Robert Smart Menswear

Denim, leather and military, the foundations of Diesel that fuel its creative DNA, define Diesel’s Fall Winter 2014 men’s and women’s collections. Inspired by contemporary and natural worlds, artistic director Nicola Formichetti edges the brand’s core aesthetics into new ground for a lineup of formidable yet wearable clothes created with Diesel’s unmistakable signatures.

“This season I wanted to explore the other side of Diesel, which is fun loving, and a little bit ironic — it’s very free spirited. I was imagining who we are: urban nomads who travel around the world, and go to different music festivals like Coachella and Glastonbury,” Formichetti said.

Military

Music festival inspiration breathes easygoing attitude into Diesel’s key military looks. Classic military wear of army green parkas and jackets are contrasted against patterned fabrics and soft shapes. They top long lace or tulle slip dresses, or are layered over washed cotton shirts and vivid striped, marled and leopard knits in cozy brushed mohair or alpaca. Floral and check shirts come patch-worked or in edgy constructions, like a men’s design which features one checked fabric in a vest over a shirt made from a diverse check. Military uniforms lend structure and clean lines to outerwear: officer style black wool coats with gold buttons, down bombers and hooded jackets with fur trims. Dresses, one long-sleeved in boiled wool, the other a sleeveless shirt dress in army green cotton show the diverse sides of formal and casual military wear. Insignia resembling military rankings, and multiple patches and tabs on boiled wool bombers, hooded sweatshirts, and as jacquard designs in fine wool and cashmere blend knits create Diesel’s own army.

Leather

Authoring new leather constructions each season, Diesel leather is founded in tried and true and novel inspiration. Timeless leather references of the motorcycle jacket and military styles are given new finishes. A washed black biker jacket’s faded finish resembles soft acid wash denim with striking accents of studs on the collar and epaulets, and red and blue leather trim on zips and pockets. An aged, lived-in tan women’s biker plays its toughness against a sheer organza floral shirt. Military aviator and bomber styles – some with shearling collars – add uniform style polish paired with the collection’s innovative denim. Leather is mixed with other fabrics to invigorate traditional outerwear, leather arms on a cotton parka or wool bomber. Formichetti’s fascination with urban nomads adds texture to narrow silhouettes via shaggy long fur vests and coats, and creamy shearlings with oversized collars and lustrous leather trims.

Denim

Denim, Diesel’s genetic code, is produced with an artisanal, couture hand. Designs are matched with treatment innovation. Scored and ripped all the way down the leg, and re-patched, a pair of over washed jeans “look a hundred years old and will last another 100 years,” Formichetti says. Dirty denim, staining on jackets and jeans that look like they have absorbed the natural hues of earth, further soften washed designs. Rain Block denim is completely waterproof denim in a jacket and pants. A new skinny jean features ergonomic seams in compact high stretch denim that flatters and adheres to the leg. Denim jackets, shirts and shirt dresses are destroyed, crumpled or spot-washed, so that fade marks give the fabric a lived-in appearance and comfortable feel. For the black carpet, denim is cut in a tuxedo jacket and with black lace for a dress.

Accessories are shaped from rigorous military shoes: lace up boots, polished black platform pumps, mirrored gold thick rubber soled oxfords for men and women. Structured bags are crafted from army green flannel, or leather satchels bound with black leather straps.

Robert Smart Menswear in York are a Harris Tweed stockist.Harris Tweed is cloth that has been handwoven by the islanders of Lewis, Harris, Uist and Barra in their homes, using pure virgin wool that has been dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides. This is the definition of Harris Tweed contained in the Harris Tweed Act of 1993 and it ensures that all cloth certified with the Harris Tweed Orb symbol complies with this definition and is genuine Harris Tweed, the world’s only commercially produced handwoven tweed.

The story of Harris Tweed is the story of a remote island community that lies between the Highlands of Scotland on the north west tip of Europe and the North Atlantic Ocean.

For centuries the islanders of Lewis, Harris, Uist and Barra have woven the magical cloth the world knows as Harris Tweed, Clo Mhor
in the original Gaelic- ‘The big cloth’.

From time immemorial, the inhabitants of the West of Scotland, including the Outer Hebrides had made cloth entirely by hand. As the Industrial Revolution reached Scotland, the mainland turned to mechanisation but the Outer Islands retained their traditional processes. Lewis and Harris had long been known for the excellence of the weaving done there, but up to the middle of the nineteenth century, the cloth was produced mainly for home use or for a purely local market.

In 1846, Lady Dunmore, widow of the late Earl of Dunmore, had the Murray tartan copied by Harris weavers in tweed. This proved so successful that Lady Dunmore devoted much time and thought to marketing the tweed to her friends and then to improving the process of production. This was the beginning of the Harris Tweed industry. At that time the method of making this handmade was as follows:

The raw material, wool, was produced locally and part of it would have been used in its natural uncoloured state, the rest was dyed. In the 19th century vegetable dyes were used. Following dyeing, the wool was mixed, the shade being regulated by the amount of coloured wool added; then it was oiled and teased; the latter process involves pulling the wool apart to open out the fibres. The next part of the preparation, carding, results in the fibres of the wool being drawn out preparatory to spinning. This was a very lengthy process followed by spinning carried out on familiar spinning-wheel by women. Until the turn of the century a very early type of handloom was used for weaving with a manually operated shuttle. The final process is finishing where the tweed is washed and given a raised compact finish. The involved in this process was often accompanied by songs in Gaelic.

As a result of the marketing efforts of Lady Dunmore, increased sales of the tweed were achieved and trade was established with cloth merchants in large towns in the UK.

At about the turn of the century the primitive small loom was replaced by the improved “fly-shuttle” loom. This was made of wood and heavier than the earlier loom tending to make weaving an occupation for men rather than women. Although originally imported from the Galashiels a local joiner started making the new type of loom in 1903.

Between 1903 and 1906 the tweed making industry in Lewis increased rapidly. Mr Aeneas Mackenzie’s carding mill in Stornoway added spinning machinery and a second mill was started by Mr Kenneth Mackenzie from whom one of the largest Harris Tweed producing companies in existence takes its name today.

At a meeting in Stornoway in 1906 efforts were considered for placing the industry on a more satisfactory footing. This was a most harmonious meeting and as the Trade Marks Act had been passed in 1905 making provision for a registration of Standardisation Marks, it seemed to be novel opportunity to end the increasing practice of offering mill-spun tweed as genuine Harris Tweed.

This meant the introduction of a system of whereby the tweed was inspected and, if passed, given a certifying stamp which would give confidence to the trade and public. A company limited by guarantee was formed under the title The Harris Tweed Association Limited. This was mainly to ensure the grant of a mark and an application was filed to register the well-known Harris Tweed Trade mark consisting of the orb and the Maltese Cross with the words Harris Tweed underneath. One of the objectives of obtaining a Mark was to protect the industry from the competition of the spinning mills.

The original definition read,”Harris Tweed means a tweed, hand-spun, hand-woven and dyed by the crofters and cottars in the Outer Hebrides”.

The Certification Mark was granted in 1909, registered in 1910 and stamping began in 1911. Amended Regulations were confirmed in June 1934 and the following was promulgated, “Harris Tweed means a tweed made from pure virgin wool produced in Scotland, spun, dyed and finished in Outer Hebrides and hand-woven by the islanders at their own homes in the Islands of Lewis , Harris, Uist, Barra and their several purtenances and all known as the Outer Hebrides”.

There could be added in legible characters to the Trade Mark, the words “Woven in Lewis”, “Woven in Harris”, “Woven in Uist” or “Woven in Barra” for the purpose of distinguishing where the tweed was made”.

The alteration in the Trademark Definition in 1934, allowing the use of millspun yarn, enabled the industry to make a huge leap in production. The stamped yardage increased tenfold and continued to increase till the peak figure of 7.6 million yards was reached in 1966.

The Hattersley single width loom The introduction of the Hattersley domestic loom in the 1920s enabled the weavers to produce more and to weave complicated patterns that could not be woven on the large wooden looms that were used for the previous 50 years.

This loom was brought to the islands by Lord Leverhulme who owned Lewis and Harris for some years and introduced many changes with mixed results.

The Hattersley loom is still used in the industry but is being replaced by the new Bonas-Griffith double width loom which was introduced in 1996 to satisfy market demands for wider, softer, lighter Harris Tweed. The Harris Tweed Association was the proprietor of the famous “Orb” Trademark. Throughout this century the HTA protected and promoted the Orb all over the world. The success of the industry meant that competitors tried to imitate Harris Tweed or pass off other fabrics as genuine. Much of the competition was from mainland Scotland and this led to a case at the Court of Session in 1964 that was, for a long time, the longest civil case in Scottish legal history. The judgement by Lord Hunter re-inforced the 1934 definition that tied all production processes to the Outer Hebrides and removed the threat of mainland competition. The years following the 1964 case were the most successful ever for Harris Tweed but, by the late 1980s the industry had begun to contract as fashions changed and the Harris Tweed jacket became less popular. The industry set out to transform itself by:

producing a new double width loom

re-training weavers

introducing new, tougher Standards

marketing the new wider, softer, lighter tweed.

The Harris Tweed Authority took over from the Harris Tweed Association in 1993 by Act of Parliament. Thus the definition of Harris Tweed became statutory and forever tied the cloth to the Islands:

Harris Tweed means a tweed which has been hand woven by the islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides, finished in the islands of Harris, Lewis, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist and Barra and their several purtenances (The Outer Hebrides) and made from pure virgin wool dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides.

The late 90s are a difficult time for the British textile industry and Harris Tweed is no exception. However there is confidence that the hard decisions taken to reform the industry will eventually bear fruit and secure the future of this unique product.

Holland Esquire jackets, coats, trousers, suits and shirts are available at Robert Smart Menswear York

HOLLAND ESQUIRE IS ONE OF THE UK’S FINEST TAILORING COMPANIES. RENOWNED TAILOR NICK HOLLAND STARTED THE COMPANY IN 2001 AND WHILE DOING CONSULTANCY WORK AROUND THE WORLD STILL DESIGNS AND OVERSEAS EVERY ASPECT OF THE COLLECTION. NICK PAYS THE FINEST ATTENTION TO DETAIL ON EVERY ASPECT OF THE DESIGN FROM THE FIT TO THE EXQUISITE DETAIL AND STYLING TO THE SELECTION OF THE FINEST FABRICS AVAILABLE ACROSS THE WORLD.

MANY OF THE FABRICS THAT WE USE ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED AND ARE UNIQUE TO HOLLAND ESQUIRE. OUR STYLE OF JACKETS ARE ALL OF A SLIM FITTING BLOCK HOWEVER WE OFFER ALTERNATIVE FITS FOR DIFFERENT BODY SHAPES AND LOOKS (PLEASE SEE OUR SIZE AND STYLE GUIDES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION). ALL OUR PRODUCTS ARE MADE IN VERY LIMITED NUMBERS MEANING EXCLUSIVITY IN DESIGN BUT DOES MEAN THAT LIMITED NUMBERS AND SIZES ARE AVAILABLE IN ALL STOCK.

Bugatti at Robert Smart Menswear in York. Men’s shoes are what Bugatti started out with back in 1928, and they haven’t lost their sense of style or knack for quality! TheBugatti men’s footwear range at Robert Smart Menswear York comprises a wide selection of styles covering everything from trainers and boots to business shoes, thereby ensuring that there should be something available for everybody. Style and comfort are the bywords of Bugatti men’s shoes. Men’s shoes from Bugatti can be combined with a wide variety of different clothes and accessories in order to put together an outfit that is true to your style. We have all the ingredients available for you right here – delve into our Bugatti men’s shoes range and find the shoes that are right for you! Bugatti men’s shoes are ideal for the modern fashion-concious male, so shop today at Robert Smart Menswear York and find the pair that suits you best!

Diversity, innovation, tradition, zeitgeist, joy of life and internationality are the foundation for the success of the brand Bugatti since 1978.
Founded in 1947 in East Westphalia by Friedrich Wilhelm Brinkmann. Over the years, Bugatti became one of the leading men’s clothing company. For the group of companies also includes brands such as Bugatti Pikeur, Wilvorst and Dressler. But even with the 14 licensing partners shows his bugatti market strength and continues to focus on the diversity of its Bugatti brand presence. bugatti is licensed for ties, shirts, umbrellas, leather goods, underwear, belts, socks, shoes, leather jackets, hats, cell phone bags, bedding and home textiles.The accessories and licensed products complete the bugatti outfits and products from the Bed & Bath round out the Bugatti world.

Bugatti, an international label that continues to evolve into a lifestyle brand.

The Gant premium lifestyle brand combines American casualness with European elegance. The company’s values are based on its authentic American East Coast heritage, dating back to the launch of the brand in 1949. Since then the brand has been further developed, taking influence from Europe, and is now a truly global brand. Gant offers full ranges of clothing for men, women, and children. In addition, Gant branded watches, footwear, eyewear, fragrances and home furnishings are designed and marketed by licensees.

Gant’s history began when Bernard Gant started making shirts in New Haven, USA. He quickly turned his passion for quality and design into the business of making casual sportswear. His sons, Marty and Elliot, later joined the company and retained their father’s dedication to garment craftsmanship and attention to detail. Still today, Bernard Gant is the source of inspiration behind Gant’s core brand values – integrity, refinement, character, understanding and optimism.

In 1999, Sweden-based Gant AB (at the time named Pyramid Sportswear) acquired the Gant brand from Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation. Back in 1980, Pyramid Sportswear had been given the right to design a collection branded Gant for the Swedish market. Pyramid Sportswear was subsequently given the right to market Gant worldwide, excluding the U.S. market. When the Gant USA business was acquired in 1999, the new owners of the Gant brand were finally given the opportunity to turn Gant into a global brand. In 2006 Gant was quoted on the Stockholm Stock Exchange and in March of 2008, Gant was delisted and bought by Maus Frères – a private Swiss company.

Gant has a history of strong international growth and is today established in over 70 countries through more than 330 Gant stores and a large number of selected premium retailers. In 2002, Gant headed east and entered the Russian market. Launches followed in Japan and China in 2004 and 2005, and during 2006, Gant was also launched in India, South Korea, Canada, Thailand and Brazil. In 2007 Gant was introduced to the markets in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Israel.